Access and Response: A Coordinated Approach to end GBV and Harmful Practices

Violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world. In conflict, humanitarian and  disaster situations, women and girls are especially vulnerable to different forms of gender-based violence including rape, confinement and sexually slavery. This violence causes enormous physical and emotional suffering to individuals, but its consequences do not stop there. It also generates shock waves across all of society, exacerbating the spread of HIV/AIDs, straining health systems, and taking a toll on whole economies. Despite national and international legal action and conventions to combat gender-based violence and harmful practices, prevalence rates remain high. There is an urgent demand for focused discussion on solutions to end gender-based violence and harmful practices, and this session is dedicated to providing a platform for that purpose. Expect stakeholders to share experiences combating these harms, and to make firm commitments to pave the way towards the vision zero gender-based violence.